Joshua Casper is the president of the Associated Students Organization.
What is ASO?
ASO is the Associated Students Organization, and we’re the advocates for the students. We fight for their rights. We fight for student issues at different conferences across the nation and locally at meetings on campus.
How did you get involved with ASO?
Being a political science major means government is perfect for me. So in the fall semester of 2008, I got an application for appointment, filled it out, wrote a letter to the then president, and a few weeks later I was appointed to be a senator of Behavioral & Social Sciences Division.
Exactly what is your job as the president?
As the president, I’m the chief executive officer and I see it that everything is done. I’m also the chief advocate. I meet with President Thomas Fallo, other administrators, and other presidents across campus weekly. I try to make sure that the student’s voices are heard by the administration and that students don’t get the short end of the stick.
As the president, what are some of your main goals?
I want to see ASO more visible and recognizable on campus. I want students to know that El Camino has a government, to know what we do for them, and to know that they can come to us. I was elected by the students, so I’m protective of them, sort of viewing them as my kids.
What’s your plan to reach those goals?
I hope to work with ICC,(Inter-Club-Council), president and Ana Safazada, director of academic affairs. I hope to see my Public Relations,(PR), Officer Walter Mendez, really being able to rally the troops across campus, getting the PR going really well. When the senators form their division talk with their students, they will be able to get that message out to other students. It will be a big domino effect where after the senate decides something, it will be spread across campus and students will know. It’s a lot of getting us out there.
What student issues do you plan on resolving this semester that were not resolved in past semesters?
Smoking on campus is a big issue that has been seen and I have spoken with past presidents about it.
Are there any upcoming events that you or the ASO are involved in?
The senate voted to co-sponsor with the First Year Experience, The Freshman Reception. We are really trying to show students that if you get involved, you’ll perform better academically, you’ll network, you’ll meet people you normally wouldn’t meet, and you gain friendships that you would not have normally gained otherwise. We’ll be doing a lot of things like that.
-Devin Franklin
